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Partnership advances vehicle energy research

O&E Media
Published 12:05 a.m. ET May 14, 2015

Checking a vehicle in the new testing lab at LTU are MaryAnnWright, vice president pf engineering and product development, Johnson Controls Power Solutions, Lisa Bahash, Group Vice President and General Manager, Global Original Equipment, Johnson Controls Power Solutions, and LTU Associate Professor Giscard Kfoury.(Photo: Lawrence Technological University)

The world’s leading supplier of automotive batteries and one of the nation’s top engineering schools unveiled the new Johnson Controls Vehicle Engineering Systems Lab, including a dynamometer, during a ceremony May 8.

Johnson Controls provided funding for a state-of-the-art dynamometer and other lab equipment that enable Lawrence Tech faculty and students to do advanced automotive testing. The first research projects involve testing of new battery systems developed by Johnson Controls.

The company will also had a “ride and drive” to demonstrate its Start-Stop system, which reportedly saves fuel and reduces emissions by automatically turning off an engine when it is idling and then restarting it when the driver wants to move forward.

A dynamometer is used to test vehicles in different controlled driving environments and accelerates understanding of how best to manage battery energy and power transfer in the vehicle.

“The work we are doing with LTU is important because we can develop, optimize and validate battery systems inside the complete vehicle environment to meet our customers’ future needs,” said MaryAnn Wright, vice president of engineering and product development for Johnson Controls Power Solutions. “Johnson Controls is constantly investing in its applied research and development capabilities to stay ahead of the evolving needs of the auto industry and to remain a global leader in the battery business.”

Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, will use the lab to test its recently announced 12-volt Lithium-ion battery in its prototype Advanced Start-Stop vehicle. The technology can improve fuel economy and emissions by up to 8 percent, according to a press release. The company’s 48-volt Micro Hybrid system, which gets up to 15 percent fuel economy, is also part of the research and development with LTU.

The partnership, which began in 2014, also focuses on developing the next generation of engineers by involving them in the research projects and teaming them with LTU faculty and Johnson Controls technical experts.

“The partnership with Johnson Controls is part of a broader effort by Lawrence Tech to respond proactively with innovative academic research programs to the needs of our corporate partners and students,” said Virinder Moudgil, president of Lawrence Technological University. “We are helping these corporate partners develop market-based solutions while providing students with real-world experiences and skills.”